The Lay Community
of Saint Benedict
Season of Creation 2023
1st September - 4th October
Creator of All,
You called us to till and keep your garden. You placed us into right relationships with each creature, but we fail to listen to the cries of the Earth and the needs of the most vulnerable.
We have sinned by not safeguarding the conditions for life.
In this Season of Creation, open our hearts to receive the living waters of God’s justice and to share it with our suffering brothers and sisters, all creatures around us and all creation.
Bless us to walk together with all people of good will so that the many streams of the living waters of your justice may become a mighty river all over the Earth.
We pray in the name of Jesus, who proclaimed good news to all creation.
Amen
If you are unable to add to the photo gallery please email photos to laybenedictines@gmail.com
Season of Creation 2023
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We are now in the Season of Creation, which continues until the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4th.
The Season of Creation is a yearly opportunity for us to celebrate the beauties of Creation with wonder, joy and thanksgiving. The theme of the Season this year is “Let Justice and Peace Flow”, taken from Amos 5:24. The theme of justice in relation to caring for creation is central to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, and reading (or re-reading) Laudato Si’ and reflecting on its deep insights and calls to action would be an excellent way to mark this time.
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As a Community, we are marking the Season with a specific prayer at Lauds and Vespers (see above), and the LCSB Caring for Creation group are also inviting you to celebrate Creation during this time in several ways:
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Walking with Wonder: Take some time each week during September to walk in nature, and reflect on the wonders of Creation and our responsibility to look after this fragile world. If you want to share a picture of something that made you stop and look again in wonder, you can post it in our shared Season of Creation Gallery. (See above)
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Taking a Quiet Hour: a time without electricity or any of the devices that depend on it, to be mindful of the need to conserve energy and minimise waste
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Joining us for a community screening (via Zoom!) of The Letter, an 80 minute film in which five people representing groups who are most affected by the climate crisis meet Pope Francis to discuss his encyclical letter Laudato Si’. The screening will be on Monday September 25th at 7:30pm in the St Scholastica meeting room. The film is powerful and moving, and we are inviting those who view it, either on the 25th or separately (it is available on YouTube: click here “Pope Francis The Letter”) to reconvene on Monday 2nd October to share their reflections and the questions that the film has raised for them.
We hope that you will feel inspired to join in!
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Peter and Catherine Stott, on behalf of the LCSB Caring for Creation group.
